Idris Shuaibu Lilisco, born in Fagge quarters of Kano metropolis about 43 years ago, is one of the pioneer members of the fast growing Hausa Film Industry otherwise known as Kannywood. His famous role is a police officer. His early films in as an actor and also as Chronographer includes are the popular ‘Sangaya’. Lilisco also played a prominent role in another popular film ‘Salam-Salam’. In this interview with ALIYU ASKIRA in Kano, Lilisco, who won 2 awards recently because of his role in the popular Hausa Film Gwaska which was produced by Adamu A. Zango, says ‘Gwaska’ was one of the most difficult film he featured in because they spent about a year shooting the film in Lagos, Kaduna and other places.
You normally play the role of Police Officer in Kannywood movies, have you ever been into police force before?
No, I am bloody civilian but because of the way I play my role, even police officers commend me. Sometimes when people meet me, they salute me thinking that I am actually a Police man. But my story is after my Primary and Secondary school when I joined Kano History and Culture Bureau. Thereafter, I went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for a certificate course. When I finished, I came back to the office. Much later however, because of the exceptional way I do my work I was easily noticed by producers like the famous Kasimu Yero and I was given offer to feature in some Hausa films, when acting was not even taken seriously in the north then. I could remember at the time people mostly watch drama and not video films.
After featuring in a film for Kasimu Yero, letter you were involved in other films like ‘Sangaya’, ‘Salam-salam’. You also did some chronographic works for some producers, later you set up a production company with Sani Mai-iska then you disappeared what happened?
Yes, this is because even though I have my own production company, it is only of recent that I was being given serious and powerful roles to play. I have been around but involved in other activities that people hardly see me. But since my appearance in ‘Gwaska’, a film produced by Adam A Zango, which I featured as a no-nonsense police officer, I have become a celebrity and I won about two awards. We spent about a year shooting the film in Lagos, Kaduna and other places. It is the most difficult film I ever featured in apart from ‘Salam-salam’.
You married from kannywood about 14 years ago and the marriage is still in tact. Tell us the secret?
Well, nothing but love and understanding. I met Zulaihat about 14 years ago when we featured in a film together. later we fall in love and got married. I allowed her to go back to school to further her education and when she finished she secured a job in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. she is however currently a full house wife. I have another wife which I married about 22 years ago. They are all at home but doing one businesses or the other and both of them have four children.
What in your opinion is the problems of Kannywood, because the society these days seem to have little or no respect for some of your members?
Well, being the vice chairman of Arewa Film-makers Association and Arewa Editors Guild, the truth I will have to say is there is no problem in Kannywood per se. We are into a profession that is watched by millions of people all over the world. When we commit mistakes people will know easily. Today people are accusing our actresses of not making success of their marriages, but marriages are being broken on a daily basis in other professions, why do people prefer to talk about kannywood? For example, if a female artist gets married today and after some time the marriage collapses, do you want us to reject her if she wants to come back? The answer is no. So people should not be judging us on that basis.
How do you get the police uniforms you use in films, or do you sow them like other costume?
No, how can we sow a police uniform? What we do is to approach the police authorities to negotiate with them, and they normally give us conditions on how to use them, so that we will not abuse the privilege they gave us. In my own case, they admire the role I play in my films as police officer. I don’t do what will embarrass them, they use to even provide us with their vehicles. But about the guns we use, whether the bullets are live or not, no security agency will give a civilian gun with live bullets, it was all camera tricks.
You have been in the industry for long, in fact most of those you started with are now super rich in the industry – people like Ali Nuhu, Fati Muhammed Sani Danja, Adam Zango, Shaibu Kumurci, etc. What materially do you have to show for it?
Riches comes from God. Most of those you mentioned are my personal friends. Though I don’t have godfather in Kannywood, on my own, I am very comfortable in life. I have two wives, beautiful children, a production company, and very popular and a stakeholder in the industry. And over the years, I acquired lot of things through the industry that I don’t have to mention on pages of newspapers. Honestly, however, I am grateful to God. I am just forty three years old and since life begins at fourty I still have a lot to contribute to the industry.
Will you allow your children to join kannywood and can you still dance like before?
Yes, after Islamic and western education, I will allow my children to act if they want to. About dancing, well I don’t know because I am heavier now and a father of many children. There are some dancing steps that I cannot do but funny enough, directors prefer to cast me as police officer in most of their films.
What is your happy and saddest moments in the course of your acting career?
About my saddest moment, I am always sad when our member die. My happy moment was after we finished the film ‘Gwaska’ and I won two awards. Let me use this medium to thank Adam A Zango for all he did for me. May Allah continue to lift his shoulders and all our members.
